I can't see where these expenses are real necessities. At this point in our economic situation all expenses should be only those items absolutely necessary to maintain day to day operations. As a homeowner/taxpayer in the district I am fed up with the free spending and continual tax hikes. How about some fiscal responsibility for once?

I don't know believe phones were necessary when we were in school, no need for music to be played through out the school,$16000 clocks seem a little extreme. Agree with AC resident fiscal responsibility needed here!

I am a teacher in another district. I don't think you realize the importance of a working intercom system. One year I worked in a room where I was not able to hear announcements. It was awful. In today's world we have intruder drills, emergency drills, all done over the intercom. Fire drills - all over the bell/ intercom system. Should there be a real emergency and you have a faulty intercom system - I shudder to think of what could happen. If the clocks don't work you can lose lots of instructional time. 5 minutes here and there added up over the school year can amount to a lot of time. If you are going to replace the system, then certainly do it right. Spend the extra money now to avoid paying later. The intercom is far more important than "playing music." It is an vital communication tool, especially in a large building.

thought i'd heard it all til now. i can't argue with a phone/intercom system, but $16k for clocks? come on! the decision makers need to act as if this is their personal checkbook when they're making decisions.

I think they could go to Wally World and do a little better on the clocks....I don't think its too much for a teacher to make sure their clock is showing the righ time...c'mon, spend our money better, that is terrible.

How much did they raise our school taxes this year? It doesn't matter how much they spent, they just raise the taxes to pay for it. I wonder what will happen when the tax payers just can't make anymore cuts to make ends meet and can't work anymore extra hours to cover all the raising taxes.

I am a teacher in another district. I don't think you realize the importance of a working intercom system. One year I worked in a room where I was not able to hear announcements. It was awful. In today's world we have intruder drills, emergency drills, all done over the intercom. Fire drills - all over the bell/ intercom system. Should there be a real emergency and you have a faulty intercom system - I shudder to think of what could happen. If the clocks don't work you can lose lots of instructional time. 5 minutes here and there added up over the school year can amount to a lot of time. If you are going to replace the system, then certainly do it right. Spend the extra money now to avoid paying later. The intercom is far more important than "playing music." It is an vital communication tool, especially in a large building.

If the clocks are off, reset them, no need to run out and buy $16,000 worth of clocks. Have you ever saw $16,000 clocks in a taxpayer's home. Where is the common sense?

At a time when the whole country is cutting back, it is typical of the Bermudian Springs School board to go full speed ahead spending OUR hard earned money on frivolous wants.This is nearly as bad a choice as was their approval of a twenty eight MILLION dollar project with only ONE bid.Just another example of bend over property owners and take it where it hurts.It is time to put a stop to this kind of spending.

They are not $16000 clocks!!!! The cost of the entire project to replace the 90 clocks and make them wireless will be $16000. That includes all the associated technology, and labor expenses, etc. I am sure that is not nearly as out of line as you think. You know how quickly technology advances. I think it is smart of them to spend up front to install state of the art which will prevent them from have to incurr costs later. Beside, you have no idea what other technology may be associated with these clock that go way beyond teling time. You don't install state of the art intercom and then skimp on the clock system. It just isn;t wise to do that.

They are not $16000 clocks!!!! The cost of the entire project to replace the 90 clocks and make them wireless will be $16000. That includes all the associated technology, and labor expenses, etc. I am sure that is not nearly as out of line as you think. You know how quickly technology advances. I think it is smart of them to spend up front to install state of the art which will prevent them from have to incurr costs later. Beside, you have no idea what other technology may be associated with these clock that go way beyond teling time. You don't install state of the art intercom and then skimp on the clock system. It just isn;t wise to do that.

Well since you put it that way, I am sure taxpayers won't mind going out to their money tree and picking a few more dollar bills to pay for this. Its a good thing that there is a never ending supply of money. Maybe if educators understood that there are limits to how much money can be spent then maybe this country wouldn't be in the mess that its in at the moment. LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS. TRY TEACHING THAT!

They are not $16000 clocks!!!! The cost of the entire project to replace the 90 clocks and make them wireless will be $16000. That includes all the associated technology, and labor expenses, etc. I am sure that is not nearly as out of line as you think. You know how quickly technology advances. I think it is smart of them to spend up front to install state of the art which will prevent them from have to incurr costs later. Beside, you have no idea what other technology may be associated with these clock that go way beyond teling time. You don't install state of the art intercom and then skimp on the clock system. It just isn;t wise to do that.

Can you please let me know what school you work for? I'd like to make sure that when I have children...they don't have you for a teacher. Apparently common sense does not exist in your world. I'm sure it's great to have state of the art systems in school's and it better economic times...well ok. But when this school district is now asking for an increase in taxes when a lot of taxpayers can barely afford what they are paying now...it's unacceptable. Why didn't they sacrifice this project (for the time being) and pull from the reserve fund to balance their budgets??? Just like a lot of taxpayers are finding themselves doing these days.

I am not a teacher basher. I think that education is important and teachers have a huge responsiblity on their shoulders. But this sense of entitlement from the school districts in this area lately are driving me crazy. Everyone is feeling the pinch...why shouldn't you?

You all seem to misunderstand my point. I am only suggesting that there was a need to improve the clocks and phone system. I do not teach for Bermudian, but I can tell you that school boards are not the frivolous spenders you accuse them of being. All I am saying is that it may very well have been fiscally responsible to install state of the art clocks and intercoms because it will save the district money in the long run, and allow future technologies to be installed at minimal cost down the road. You have to look at school budgeting in the bigger picture. They said the money had already been budgeted in the district's capital reserve. Admitedly, I am no business mananger but I do know that some budgets are set up so that monies are not transferable from one account into the other. Knowing what I know about government building projects, $16000 is not nearly as out of line as you would think when you factor in labor. So, EEE, if your kids were in my class they would learn to examine issues from various persectives before spouting off.

Technology is great if you can afford. Why don't you go find someone who is laid off and about to loose their home and ask them how they feel about this expenditure. Try telling them that 16k isn't much money. Let us know how you make out.

Technology is great if you can afford. Why don't you go find someone who is laid off and about to loose their home and ask them how they feel about this expenditure. Try telling them that 16k isn't much money. Let us know how you make out.

Thanks Larry. You continue to make my point.

Teacher...you need to put yourself into taxpayers shoes before you spout off. I never said not to put in state of the art systems. I said to NOT do it when the taxpayers can not afford to foot the bill! I understand wanting/needing better systems, but the project could have been put on hold until it made more sense.

EEE, and how much do you think the same project will cost 3 years from now? 5 years from now? How can you be sure those funds will be available 5 years from now? How do you know that taxpayers will be in a better position 3 years from now. Perhaps putting it off could mean a greater expense to taxpayers, or that it will never get done at all. I don't know the answers, but I do trust school boards more than you do. I would be willing to bet that if you were a part of the discussion you would likely have made the same decision. I say that because I have been a part of similar discussions in my district and I can tell you that most school boards take this stuff VERY seriously and do not raise taxes at their pleasure like you think they do. Again...people need to examine issues from all perspectives before getting angry.

EEE, and how much do you think the same project will cost 3 years from now? 5 years from now? How can you be sure those funds will be available 5 years from now? How do you know that taxpayers will be in a better position 3 years from now. Perhaps putting it off could mean a greater expense to taxpayers, or that it will never get done at all. I don't know the answers, but I do trust school boards more than you do. I would be willing to bet that if you were a part of the discussion you would likely have made the same decision. I say that because I have been a part of similar discussions in my district and I can tell you that most school boards take this stuff VERY seriously and do not raise taxes at their pleasure like you think they do. Again...people need to examine issues from all perspectives before getting angry.

You have no comprehension of living within your means at the moment. Its great to plan ahead if you can, but at this moment there are a lot of people out there struggling just to get through today. There is a lot of people who have lost jobs or taken salary cuts. Have you had to take a pay cut? Have your hours been cut or have you had to take a cut in salary? I bet I can guess the answer to those questions.

Living "in the moment" financially speaking is foolish. When you do your finances you have to look ahead. Actually I did take a salary cut 2 years ago when I changed jobs. I live well within my means so that when times are bad I have something to fall back on. But that is besides the point. Bermudian had this money in reserve. It is a project that needed to be done.$16000 is really a bargain for what needs to be done, and putting it off may be a foolish thing to do in the long run. So, respectfully, I disagree that living in the moment is the right thing to do when talking finances.

Add your comments below

Please note by submitting this form you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator. Send us your feedback.